Irvington Theater opened in 1902 after a group of Irvington residents deeded land to the Village under the provision that the building to be placed there house a free library, a reading room, and a public hall.

That hall — our theater — was completed in 1902, and over the next sixty years, it became the center of cultural life in the Village, hosting concerts, recitals, balls, cotillions, graduations, and public meetings. In its early decades, you might have heard Lillian Nordica’s operatic arias floating into the streets, a campaign speech by Eleanor Roosevelt, or auditions for The Original Amateur Hour, hosted by Irvington resident Ted Mack.

By 1960, our beloved theater was little used. Changes in fire and health codes meant that the theater was in non-compliance, and the urgent need for additional library space prompted the closing off of the central hallway and staircase leading to the theater. Except for a handful of events, including a 1978 dollhouse exhibition and an overnight campout for the Boy Scouts, Irvington Theater sat dark for almost twenty years. With disuse came disrepair. Lighting was non-existent but for a few bare bulbs. The skylight leaked and left the theater open to the elements. The heat did not work, and the walls were quite literally crumbling.

In 1978, an interest group made up of Village residents, along with the the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson, began exploring the possibilities of restoring the theater and equipping it for modern use. The group presented a proposal to the Village Board of Trustees. After several meetings, the Village agreed to contribute $80,000 to the restoration, contingent on the interest group raising $20,000 to show community support for the project — which they did within a year thanks to the help of of the Junior League and the Thursday Club.

By 1980, the Irvington Town Hall Theater (ITHT, as it was called then) was renovated and ready for its grand reopening, replete with new safety systems, stairwells, plumbing, and lighting. The paint and plaster were restored to their early-20th century charm. That same year, the Theater Commission was established by the Village and tasked with the operation and management of the theater. Members of the Commission are appointed by Irvington's Mayor and trustees.

For the past 40+ years, Irvington Theater has been a vital presenter and curator of theater, music, dance, film, and comedy, attracting a broad range of audiences from the greater New York metropolitan area. We produce our own programming and proudly present the work of our Arts Partners — including Broadway Training Center, Clocktower Players, and River's Edge Theater Company.